criminology unit 2 Flashcards
what did Lombroso study?
Criminals facial features
what did lombroso want to do to criminology
make the study of criminology scientific and believed people were born criminal
where were the criminals from that Lombroso studied
italy
which facial features did Lombroso link to criminality
-high cheek bones
-fleshy lips
-large chins
-handle shaped ears
what did Lombroso think caused these criminal facial features
Atavistic genes
what are atavistic genes
genes from earlier in human development ‘primitive’
how do criminals act according to lombroso
they act savage and untamed - cannot follow the rules of society = criminal
positives of lombrosos theory
-supporting evidence
-practical application
negatives of lombrosos theory
-methodology
-ethical implications
what did Sheldon study
peoples body types and how they can link to criminality
what were the 3 categories Sheldon split people into
-endomorphic
-ectomorphic
-melomorphic
how do endomorphic act according to Sheldon
sociable, comfortable, relaxed
how do ectomorphies act according to Sheldon
self-conscious, introverted
how do melomorphics act according to Sheldon
aggressive, senstion seeking, adventurous
who are the criminals according to Sheldon
mesomorphic are the criminals because they are mentally and physically capable
what are Sheldon’s strengths
-supportinh evidence
what are Sheldon’s weaknesses
-methodology
-ethical implications
-assumes that somotypes are fixed
what is Jacobs XYY theory
he believed that criminals inherit and extra Y chromosome and are ‘super-males’
what are super males charateristics
-tall and well built
-lack intelligence
-highly aggressive (mentally and phyisically able to commit crime)
strengths of Jacobs XYY theory
-supporting evidence
weaknesses of Jacobs XYY theory
-ignores alternatives
-ethical implications
-can’t explain all crime
how do brain injuries or disorders cause people to become criminals
a person will begin non criminal and then will suffer a brain ingury/disorder and then become criminal
example of a brain injury
Phineas Gage, he has a metal rod go threw his brain and it damaged his prefrontal cortex, this is responsible for personality and thinking, after the accident he became aggressive, selfish and gained negative personality trates and this can link to criminality
example of brain tumours
Charles Whitman, Texas clock tower shooter, he did know his urges were out of control but couldnt help them, in his autopsy they found out he had a tumour on the amygdala which regulates emotion=crime
